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A Kenyan passport needs a Dubai visa before you fly; the UAE lists Kenya as visa required. Travelling from Kenya, you get a tourist visa through a licensed Dubai company or airline, AED 210 in GDRFA fees for 30 days, issued in about 48 hours. If you live in the UK, the EU, the US or six other countries, ICP's 14-day or 60-day visa is often cheaper.
Where you live decides the visa
| Your situation | Best fit | Government fee |
|---|---|---|
| Living in Kenya, holiday | GDRFA tourist visa | AED 210 for 30 days |
| Living in Kenya, relative in the UAE | ICP or GDRFA visit visa | Sponsor pays, plus a guarantee |
| Living in the UK, EU or US with a valid visa or residence | ICP visa for nationals residing abroad | AED 100 (14 days) or AED 350 (60 days) |
| Resident of Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore or New Zealand | Same ICP route, residence permit only | AED 100 or AED 350 |
| Working in Saudi Arabia, Qatar or another GCC state | Entry visa for GCC residents | Depends on profession |
Sources: GDRFA tourist visa page and ICP service page, checked .
From Nairobi or Mombasa: the tourist visa
You do not apply to GDRFA yourself. A Dubai tourism establishment, a hotel or the airline does it. GDRFA charges AED 210 for 30 days single entry, AED 315 for 60 days single entry or 30 days multiple entry, and AED 525 for 60 days multiple entry, VAT included. Conditions are short: passport valid 6 months, onward ticket, UAE valid health insurance.
Flying Emirates? The airline sells prearranged visas to its passengers at US$90 for 30 days single entry and US$177 for 60 days single entry, with a return Emirates ticket. These are airline prices, not government fees.
What Dubai agencies charge
Dubai visa agencies publish about AED 340 to AED 800 for a 30-day single entry visa (published prices of 8 Dubai agencies, checked ). A Kenyan travel agent who resells a Dubai agency's visa will sit at or above that range.
Living abroad: ICP's route for Kenyans
On ICP added Kenya to the visa that was once only open to Indians living abroad. What you need:
- A Kenyan passport valid for 6 months
- A valid visa or residence permit from the US, an EU state or the UK, or a residence permit from Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Singapore or New Zealand
Two versions exist. The 14-day visa is AED 100 and can be extended once. The 60-day visa is AED 250 issuance plus AED 100 smart services, one entry, no extension, and you must enter within 30 days of issue. Family members who meet the same conditions qualify too. Emirates lists its own prices for this route: US$63 for 14 days and US$141.36 for 60 days. More on this on our visa with a US, UK or EU visa page.
Documents checklist
For the tourist visa from Kenya:
- Passport bio page scan, 6 months of validity or more
- White background photo to the ICAO standard
- Return ticket and UAE valid health insurance
For the ICP route, add:
- A clear copy of the US, EU or UK visa or residence, or the qualifying residence permit, valid on the travel date
Steps
- Decide the route using the table above.
- Send the documents to the company, airline or adviser filing the visa.
- Pay the fee. ICP and GDRFA fees are charged when the request is submitted.
- Receive the e-visa by email and check it on the GDRFA or ICP status page.
- Enter within the window: 30 days of issue on the ICP 60-day visa, 60 days on a sponsored visit visa.
Processing time
GDRFA lists 48 hours for tourist visas. ICP lists 2 days for the residence abroad visa. Emirates speaks of about 2 to 4 working days and wants the request at least 4 working days before arrival. Our processing time page compares them.
Going to work in the UAE
Kenya's labour ministry announced in that recruitment agencies sending Kenyans abroad must be registered with the National Employment Authority, and that workers take pre-departure training before they leave. Kenya and the UAE also signed a memorandum on domestic workers in , which routes hiring through licensed agencies. A visit visa does not let you work, so a genuine job starts with an employer sponsored permit.
Why Kenyan applications go wrong
- Using the ICP 60-day visa after the 30-day entry window has passed
- A UK, EU or US visa that expires before your trip does
- A Canadian or Australian visitor visa offered instead of a residence permit
- Overstaying a tourist visa, which costs AED 50 for every extra day; see overstay fines
How it works with us
Send your passport copy, where you live and your dates, either on WhatsApp or through the form here. A visa adviser compares the routes open to a Kenyan passport in your situation and tells you which is cheaper. You see one total price before you pay. The team fills in the request, uploads the documents, files it with GDRFA or ICP and keeps track until it is issued. You receive the e-visa by email. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service; the decision belongs to the UAE authorities.
Government fees stay with the authorities if a visa is refused. Before you pay, the adviser confirms in writing what part of the total, if any, you get back after a refusal.
Official sources
- ICP visa for nationals residing abroad: Kenya, qualifying permits, fees
- ICP announcement: the six added nationalities and the 14-day fee
- GDRFA tourist visa: fees and conditions
- Kenya Ministry of Labour: NEA registration for recruiters
East Africa: Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and the rest on Dubai visa by nationality.
